Improvement in seeding-machines



E. RITSON. SEEDING MACHINE.

jadpented Oct. l, 1867.

YH: nofws Farms co. Fumo-nwo., w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN RTSON, OF MAL'IAVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WM. H. BURTIS OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEEDING-MACHINES.

Specilieation forming part of Letters Patent N0. 69,48%, dated October 1, 1867.

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that/I, EDWIN RITsoN, of Maltaville,Saratoga cu'nty,New York, have invented a newaud Improved Seeding-Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specificatlon.

This invention relates to a new and improved seedingmachne of that class designed for sowing seed in drills, and is animprove'ment on a machine for which Letters Iatent were granted to me bearing date July l0, 1860.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l is a side sectional view of my invention, taken in the line m 90,'Fig. 2; Fig.2, anv inverted plan ot' the same; Figs. 3 and 4, detached inverted plans of a number ot the co vering-teeth, showing the way in which they are adjpsted.

Similar letters ot reference indicate corresponding parts.

A- represents a frame, which is mounted on .two wheels,B B ,and to which the draft-power is applied.

To the front end of the frame A'there are connected by pivots or hinges a two frames, C C. and to the rear of each frame C there is -connected byjoin-ts or hinges b a supplemental frame, D, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 1.

To the rearof each frame C there are attached a series of rotary furrow-openers, E,

placed on shafts F, the bearin gs ot' which are in plates G attached tothe sides of the frames C and depend therefrom.

Four furrow-openers, E, are shown on the shaft of each frame; but besides these there are shown two in advance, one at each side of each frame, and having their bearings in the front ends of the plates G, the latter being of bent or angular form, as shownin Fig.`1. These furrow-openers have V-shaped edges tc penetrate the earth, as shown clearly in Fig.. 2, and they are kept clean, or earth prevented from adhering to them, by Scrapers H, attached to the rear cross-bar ot' the frames C. In practice it is designed to have the edges of the furrowopeners two inches.' apart, so that theseed may be planted in drills as close as that,'when desired.

To the rear bar of each supplemental frame D there are attached a series of coverers, I, the shape ofwhich is shown clearly in Fig. l. These coverers are provided with round or cylindrical tan gs c, which are secured to the rear bars, d, ofthe frame D by means ot' eyes J, which are formed at the ends of rods e, the latter passing through the bars d, and having screw-nuts f on theirinnerends, by screwing up which thetangs ofthe coverers will be firmly clamped in position. These coverers are in line with the ceuters'of the spaces between the edges of the furrow-openers, and by securing the coverers I to the bars d they may be adjusted so as t0 throw earth upon and cover the seed, or throw the earth from the seed and form ridges of earth between the drills. Some kinds of seedsuch as oats,for instance-are covered, and the coverers are adjusted to el'ect that end (see FiO. 4:) where oats are being planted, but in planting or sowing wheat the coverers are adjusted to throw the earth up between the drills (see Fig. 3) in order to protect the wheat from the frost. Both the furrow-0 pen ers and the coverers are allowed to rise and fall freely to conform to the inequalities of surface over which they may pass.

Ou the rear part of the frame A there is placed-a seed-box, K, which is divided into two compartments, g g', by a vertical partition, h, each compartment havinga series of holes, i, made in its bottom, the holes in the two compartments being in line with each other in a direction longitudinal with frame A.

To the under side of the seed-box K there are attached a series of shoes, L, thelatter being connected by joints j to the rear end of the seed-box. These shoes have discharge-openings k in them near their front ends, and they are in line with the edges of the furrow-openers E. The front ends of the shoes L rest on arms t, which are attached to a shaft, M, said shaft being placed transversely on the frame- A, and having an arm, N, on one end of 1t,

which, by means of a spring, O, s made to hear against a bottom wheel, P, attachedconcentrically to the wheel B. By this means as shaft having the eccentricsm m upon it, to which the frames G'C are attached by cords or chains n n.

The holes iin 'the compartiments g g' of the seed-box are each provided with a slide, o, to.

admit of all or any of the holes being cntoi' or closed when desired.

From the above description it will be seen vvthat the diierent kinds of seed-grain and :grass-seed, for instance, may be planted in the vsame drill when desired, the compartment gbeing supplied with one kind of seed and thev compartment g' with another kind, or by clos-l ing certain holesi in the two'compartments i l grass-seed may be sown between drills of wheat and rye, or a pulvernlent manure may be sown with grain or anyseed.v`

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*- l. The combination of the rotary furrowopeners E and coverers I, attached respectively to the frames C D, the former being connected by hinges or joints a to the front end of the frame A, and the latter connected by hinges or joints b to the rear ot' ythe frames C,

'substantially as and for the purpose set forth.`

2. The vibrating shoes L, arranged and operated as shown, in connection with the seedbox K, provided with one or more compartments, and all arranged substantially as and for the`purpose specified.

3. The .attaching of the coverers vI to the rear bars, d, of the supplemental frames D, to admit of theA adjustment ot' the coverers, substantially in the manner as and for the pur-v pose setlfforth.

4. The combination of the furrow-openers E, eov'erers I, and the seed-distributing device composed of the vibrating shoes L and perforated.- bottom of theseed-box, provided with slides o, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

EDWIN RITSON. Witnesses:

HENRY VAN HYNING, LUTHER D. HosFoRD. 

